Apparatus for finishing knitted goods

ABSTRACT

A TREATING CHAMBER IS DISPOSED ON A TRACK FOR GUIDING FORMS ON WHICH ARTICLES TO BE TREATED ARE PLACED. HOT BLAST SUPPLIED INTO THE CHAMBER IS DISPERSED BY A WIRE NETTING AND MIXED WITH STEAM INTO HOT HUMID GAS NEAR THE CEILING PORTION. A CARRIER OF THE FORMS IS SENT INTO OR OUT OF THE CHAMBER BY A CHAIN DRIVEN IN A DEFINITE DIRECTION AND IN OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TRAVEL OF CARRIER, THE SUPPLY OF HOT AIR IS EFFECTED, SO THAT THE ARTICLES ARE SUBJECTED TO THE HOT HUMID AIR UNIFORMLY. AFTER TREATMENT, THEY ARE DRIED WITH A COLD BLAST.

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ATTORNEYS HEIJI KAKUTANI APPARATUS FOR FINISHING KNITTED GOODS f/f/J'l K/l/(LITHNI, NVENTOR Sept. 20, 1971 Filed Aug. 5, 1969 Sept. 1971 HEIJI KAKUTANI 3,605,277

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING KNITTED GOODS Filed Aug. 5, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FlG.6

N f/f/J/ KHA/MTHNII INVENTOR aYa/mbdgfld FM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,605,277 APPARATUS FOR FINISHING KNITTED GOODS Heiji Kakutani, Osaka, Japan, assignor to Kakutaui Seisakusho Ltd., Osaka, Japan Filed Aug. 5, 1969, Ser. No. 847,605

Int. Cl. F26]: 21/06 US. Cl. 3483 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A treating chamber is disposed on a track for guiding forms on which articles to be treated are placed. I-Iot blast supplied into the chamber is dispersed by a wire netting and mixed with steam into hot humid gas near the ceiling portion. A carrier of the forms is sent into or out of the chamber by a chain driven in a definite direction and in operative relationship with the travel of carrier, the supply of hot air is effected, so that the articles are subjected to the hot humid air uniformly. After treatment, they are dried with a cold blast.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for finishing knitted goods to the shape of a form. Knitted goods such as undergarments like undershirts and panties or stockings put on the form are sent into a treating chamber and the undergarments are then subjected to a humid gas of a high temperature comprising a mixture of hot air and steam.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a treating chamber disposed on a support box extending horizontally and effecting treatment with a hot blast of air and steam, a carrier providing a base for a form thereon and having a plate leg received in a slit of a track, a chain driven in a definite direction, left and right projecting members fixed to the plate leg and each adapted to intersect only one of the upper and lower sides of the chain, and guide wheels disposed at the starting end of the track for guiding the chain further downward so that a projection on the chain may engage with either one of the projecting members and push the carrier to thereby move the form back and forth.

In accordance with the apparatus of the present invention, the base of the form and the carrier on the track are engaged by projecting edges and a dovetail groove,

and base supports of the same shape as the carrier are provided on opposite sides of the track at its starting end, one of the base supports carrying a base for another form, the bases being adapted to be interchanged by a U-shaped arm in operative relationship with a change lever, so that one operator can handle two forms to carry out the finishing operation with high efficiency.

The apparatus of the present invention is further provided with cold blast ducts on the opposite sides of the track proximate to the opening of the treating chamber serving as an inlet or outlet, hemispherical mouthpieces being formed on the ducts for adjusting the direction to discharge the cold blast, so that the articles treated may be dried on emergence from the chamber.

The apparatus of the present invention further comprises a hot blast duct, a by-pass in communication therewith at upper and lower portions, a closure plate mounted pivotally on the upper opening edge of the hot blast duct to close the by-pass, and a strip plate supported pivotally on the path of a roller mounted on the plate leg of the carrier, the strip plate being adapted to be moved by the roller so that the closure plate, thereby actuated, may close a hot blast guide duct while the form is being moved into or out of the treating chamber to subject the articles to the hot blast uniformly.

In the apparatus of the present invention, it is also possible to form the track of the form in endless shape, by which the forms carrying the articles to be treated thereon may be passed through'the treating chamber one after another in circulation.

In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus is provided with a steam discharge pipe proximate to the hot blast guide duct jointed to the ceiling of the treating chamber for ejecting steam at the inlet of the hot blast to produce the mixture of steam and hot air so as to subject the articles to be treated to humid gas of a high temperature.

The apparatus in accordance with the present invention further comprises a fan and a hot blast duct carrying therein a heater disposed behind the treating chamber, a Wire netting provided proximate to the ceiling of the treating chamber for dispersing a hot blast, and a steam discharge pipe provided with rows of small holes in the upper surface for ejecting steam obliquely upward, where by the hot blast supplied into the treating chamber may be dispersed in the whole space of the chamber upon passing through the wire netting and the steam ejected obliquely upward may be mixed with the hot blast.

The present invention is based upon the discoveries that when steam is discharged in a chamber for treating knitted goods at the inlet of a hot air stream, both air and steam are uniformly mixed into a humid gas of a high temperature and that the gas thus obtained is well fit for finishing knitted goods because the gas has a high permeating property and imparts a large quantity of heat to the articles to be treated due to the latent heat of the steam. Since it is not necessary to perfectly close the inlet or outlet of the treating chamber in accordance with the present invention, means for opening or closing the inlet or outlet can be dispensed with to simplify the apparatus. The fibers softened through the permeation of steam are brought into small vibration to effect the removal of creases, with the result that knitted articles can be set to the form promptly with excellent finishing ensured. Unlike those treated with hot air alone, the articles thus obtained are free from discoloration.

The following tables show treating conditions of steam and hot air in the apparatus of the present invention for several kinds of fibers.

TABLE 1.KNITTED GOODS AFTER SETTING FOR STRETCHIN G Steam Hot blast (Eel/ease fregsure T g. cm. X ime emperature C.) Klnds of fiber (see.) XIime (see.) Polyacrylonitrile fibero. 1x10-15 12o 20-25 Polyamide fiber- 0. 3X25-30 170 3040 Polyester fiber 0. lX10-15 170X20-25 Polypropylene fiber. 0. 2X20-25 X30-40 Acetate fiber 0. 2X20-30 X 25-30 Pure cotton fiber 1. 5X30-40 3040 Hemp fiber 0. 7X25-30 X30-40 NOTE.In ease of blended fibers the conditions for the constituent fiber of the greater proportion are applied.

TABLE 2.KNITTED GOODS PRIOR TO SETTING FOR No'rE.In case of blended fibers the conditions for the constituent fiber of the greater proportion are applied.

TABLE 3.-STOCKINGS Steam Hot blast Release pressure (kg./cm. (lime Temperature 0.)

sec.

The present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing an embodiment of the finishing apparatus, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the embodiment with a front wall broken away;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the same;

FIG. 3 is an end view as seen from the right side of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view along the line IVIV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line VV in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line VIVI in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, designated at 1 is a support box extending horizontally and carrying a treating chamber 2 disposed on its center and left hand portions. EX- tending from the right end toward the middle portion is a slit 3 formed in the upper surface of the support box with projections 4, 4 attached to the both side edges of the slit to provide a guide track 5. Designated at 6 is an endless chain reeved around sprockets 7, 8 in the support box with the upper side 6a and the lower side 6b of the belt extending in parallel approximately over the entire length of the slit 3, the right end 6c of the lower side further extending downward around three guide wheels 9 to 11. Designated at 12 is a motor mounted at the left end of the support box 1 for driving a pulley 16 on the sprocket shaft through V-belts 13, 14 and clutch 15 to rotate the sprocket 7 and drive the chain 6 in the definite direction indicated by an arrow A. A motor attached with a brake which can be quickly stopped is employed as the motor 12. When a trouble arises during treating operation, the clutch 15 is disengaged and the chain 6 is moved by turning a handle on the clutch shaft.

Numeral 17 is an elongated carrier mounted on the track 5 between the projections 4, 4 and carrying a large plate leg 18 attached to its under face and extending through the slit 3 into the support box. Projecting members 20a, 20b extending vertically from and attached to the plate leg 18 of the carrier are spaced apart in facing relationship. The projecting member 20a on the left intersects the upper side of the belt, while the projecting member 20b on the right intersects the lower side 6b of the belt. Any one of the pins of the chain 6 is extended to provide a projection 21 which is adapted to engage with the projecting members 20a or 20b.

While being positioned on the upper side 6a during the travel of the chain, the projection 21 pushes the left projecting member 20a and moves the carrier 17 leftward and when the projection 21 comes to the left side of the sprocket 7 to bring the carrier to the middle portion of the treating chamber 2, the lower left corner thereof presses a limit switch 22 to open the electrical circuit of the motor 12, whereupon the chain 6 is brought to a halt. When the motor 12 is actuated into rotation after the lapse of the time set on a timer (not shown), the chain 6 is driven again to move the projection 21 to the lower side 6b into pushing contact with the right projecting member 20b and send the carrier 17 rightward. When the projection 21 reaches the guide wheel 9, the carrier 17 is returned to the starting end (right end) of the track 5 and the right end 60 is further driven downward, so that the projection 21 gets released from the right projecting member 20b with the result that the carrier is brought to a halt. After passing around the guide wheels 10, 11, the rojection presses a limit switch 23 while approaching to the sprocket 8 and opens the electrical circuit of the mOtOr 12 to stop the chain 6. In this manner, the carrier 17 is advanced leftward or rightward on the track by the chain 6 as it is driven in one direction, the carrier 17 being thus retained at rest for a while at the middle portion of the treating chamber and thereafter moved out of the chamber to be returned to the starting end of the track.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, designated at 24a is a form on which an article 25a to be treated is placed. A base 26a for supporting the form has projecting edges in its lower face in fitting engagement with a dovetail groove 27 formed transversely in the carrier face, the form thus being adapted to travel along the track 5 on the carrier 17. Although the form illustrated is for the use of undershirts, for the articles having smaller widths such as underpants or stockings two or more forms may be mounted on one base. Base supports 28a, 28b mounted at the starting end of the track 5 are of the same size as the carrier 17 with dovetail grooves 29a, 29b formed transversely in the upper surface thereof on the opposite sides of the slit 3 in facing relationship. The dovetail grooves 29a, 29b correspond to the dovetail groove 27 when the carrier 17 is brought to the starting end of the track. An article 25b to be treated is placed on another form 24b supported on a base 26b which rests on the base support 28b with its projecting edges in the under face fitted in the dovetaile grove in the base support. A U-shaped arm on the right end of the support box 1 has a base portion fitted in a tubular guide 31 fixed to the end of the support box and rods 30a, 30b on the opposite sides, the rod 30a being positioned on and along the inner edge of the base support 2811, the rod 30b being disposed along the outer edge of the base 26b. Projections 31a, 31b implanted in these side rods are spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than twice the width of the base. A projection 32 extends from the base portion through a slit 33 in the guide.

A hearing 34 fixed to the under edge at the right end of the support box 1 carries a short stem extending therethrough on which a change lever 35 and a handle bar 36 are fixedly mounted at an acute angle, the crotched end of the change lever 35 being fitted with the projection 32 to eifect the connection with the arm 30. When the handle bar 36 is moved toward this side by grasping a knob 38 upon the carrier 17 reaching the starting end of the track 5, the change lever 35 moves the arm 30 by the projection 32 to push the base 26b on the base support 28b onto the carrier by the projection 31b, with the result that the base 26a on the carrier is moved onto the base 28a on this side. When this carrier is returned to the starting end after having been reciprocated on the track 5, the projection 31a of the arm 30 interchanges the base upon the handle bar 36 being moved backward. By operating the handle bar 36 in this manner, two bases 26a and 26b are alternatively placed on the carrier 17, which is sent into or out of the treating chamber by the chain 6. During this time the articles to be treated on the forms on the bases carried on the base supports are replaced. Designated at 39a, 39b are limit switches attached to the right end surface of the support box 1 and disposed at extremities of the range of pivotal movement of the change lever 35. When the change of the base support has been effected, the lever pushes one of the switches to drive the motor 12 and chain 6.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, rectangular cold blast ducts 40, 41 are disposed in an upright position at the right of the treating chamber 2 on the opposite sides of the track 5 with the lower portions secured to the support box 1. A mouthpiece 44 is fixed to each of the right side surfaces at its intermediate portion. Indicated at 45 is a vertically elongated box standing behind the cold blast duct 40 and carrying a fan 46 disposed at its top with a discharge duct 42 joined with the top ends of the cold wind ducts 40, 41. A branch duct 43 extends rightwardly from the discharge duct. mouthpieces 47 are provided on the under disposed internally and externally in overlapping manner and changes the direction of discharge of the cold blast. The fan 46 driven through a V-belt 48 by a motor (not shown) disposed within a box causes the cold blast to blow out of mouthpieces 44, 47 through the ducts 40 to 43, the mouthpieces thus directing the cold blast to the articles which have been treated in the treating chamber and sent out for the drying operation.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, numerals 50 to 52 indicate heat-insulating plates lining the treating chamber 2, the spaced apart insulating plates 50, 50 in front and rear being brought gradually closer to each other toward the lower portion. A slit 53 is formed in the heat insulating plate 52 at the bottom portion to allow legs 54a, 54b of the forms to pass through. The treating chamber is provided in the right side face with an inlet or outlet opening "55 which has a curtain 57 made of canvas and formed with a cut 56 so that forms 24a, 241; may be carried into or out of the treating chamber. A rectangular, upright hot blast duct 58 is disposed at the middle position behind the treating chamber. In front of the hot blast duct 58 there is disposed a by-pass 59. The duct and by-pass are communicated with each other at the upper and lower portions. The hot blast duct has a heater 60 therein and is provided at a lower portion with a fan 61 which is driven through a V-belt 63 by a motor (not shown) disposed within a support box 62 and which supplies air to the heater 60 to produce a hot blast. A hot blast guide duct 64 spreads over the entire width of the treating chamber 2 in flat flaring form and is joined to the ceiling of the chamber. The duct 64 is also lined with a heat-insulating material 65 and connected to the upper mouth of the hot blast duct 58. Designated at 66 are several vents formed in the back face of the lower portion of the treating chamber 2 and joined with a flat flaring exhaust duct 67 which is communicated with a fan 61 in the hot blast duct through the lower portion of the by-pass 59. A closure plate 68 is pivotally mounted on a pin 69 along the upper mouth edge of the hot blast duct 58. The pin 69 fixedly carries a lever 70 to which is connected a rod 71. The closure plate usually hangs vertically due to its own weight to close the by-pass 59 while, when the rod 71 is pushed up, it is moved pivotally upwards to close the hot blast guide duct 64. A strip plate 72 laterally supported along the bottom of the support box 1 has opposite edges formed with gradually slanting surfaces. The opposite ends of a support shaft 74 fixed to the legs 73, 73 are supported on bearings 75, 75. A projecting member 76 disposed closer to the left end extends through a hole 77 in the wall of the box and is connected to the lower end of the rod 71. Numeral 78 indicates a roller mounted on the plate leg 18 of the carrier and adapted to roll on the strip plate 72 when the carrier 17 is driven by the chain 6. The arrangement is such that when the closure plate 68 is hanging vertically the strip plate 72 is allowed to position on the path of the roller 78 and while the form is being moved into or out of the treating chamber the roller rides on and pushes down the strip plate to urge the closure plate 68 upward and close the hot blast guide duct 64 thereby directing the hot blast toward the by-pass 59. When the form is carried to the middle portion of the treating chamber or when the form is moved out of the treating chamber, the roller 78 gets released from the strip plate 72 to permit the closure plate 68 to swing down vertically because of its own weight, whereupon the by-pass 59 is closed, allowing the hot blast to flow into the guide duct 64.

Disposed over the entire area of the juncture between the treating chamber 2 and the hot blast guide duct 64 is a heat-resisting wire netting 80 which serves to disparse the hot blast into-the whole space of the treating chamber as the blast passes through the wire netting.

A steam discharge pipe 81 provided under the wire netting 80 has two rows of small holes 82 in the upper surface for ejecting steam obliquely upward. The inlet end of the pipe is connected to a boiler by way of a conduit 83 and a member disposed within the box 45. The box 45 further includes means for adjusting steam pressure, an electromagnetic valve, a circuit for actuating the valve, drain trap, strainer, etc. The innermost end of the steam discharge pipe is connected with another duct (not shown) for sending out the steam by way of a drain trap. The steam ejected obliquely upward from the steam discharge pipe is immediately mixed with the hot blast passing through the wire netting to form a hot humid gas of high temperature comprising a mixture of hot air and steam. The hot humid gas, on contact with the articles to be treated, imparts heat and moisture to the articles and is thereafter drawn out through vents 66 by the fan 61. While passing through the heater 60, after being led into the hot blast duct 58 by way of the exhaust duct 67 the gas is transformed into .a hot dry blast with the remaining moisture removed. It is then fed to the treating chamber.

The function of the apparatus of the present invention is as follows. The operator standing at the starting end of the track 5 places the article to be treated on a form 2411 or 24b, and interchange the base 26a with the base 26b by operating the handle bar 36. A hot blast is supplied into the treating chamber 2 by means of the heater 60 and fan 61, with the steam generator disposed within the box 45 generating saturated steam, while the fan 46 causes the cooling air to blow out from respective mouthpieces 44, 47 of the cold blast ducts 40 to 43.

When the carrier 17 is positioned at the starting end of the track 5, the handle bar 36, if inclined backward by the operator, causes the base 26a of the form 24a with the article 25a to be treated thereon to be pushed onto the carrier 17, whereupon the change lever 35 presses the switch 3% to set the chain 6 driving. The pin 21 on the chain which is positioned close to the right end of the upper side 6a at this time pushes the left projecting member 20a of the plate leg 18 of the carrier as the chain is further driven forward thereby moving the carrier leftward to send the form 24a into the treating chamber 2. When a portion of the form begins to enter the chamber, the roller 78 of the plate leg 18 rides on and pushes down the strip plate 72, swinging the closure plate 68 upward through the rod 71 to close the hot blast guide duct 64 and allow tthe hot blast to flow into the by-pass 59. Upon the projection 21 arriving at the left side of the sprocket 7 with the carrier 17 brought to the middle portion of the treating chamber 2, the lower left corner of the carrier presses the switch 22 and stops the chain 6, whereupon the roller 78 is released from the left end of the strip plate 72 to allow the closure plate 68 to swing downward due to its own weight, with the result that the by-pass 59 is closed to direct the hot air into the treating chamber through the guide duct 64.

When the form 24a is brought to the predetermined position within the treating chamber, the operation circuit disposed within the box 45 opens the electromagnetic valve to initiate the ejection of steam from the discharge pipe 81. The hot blast flowing downward while being uniformly dispersed upon passage through the wire netting is immediately mixed with the steam which is ejected obliquely upward to make a humid gas of high temperature comprising uniform mixture of hot air and steam, to which the article to be treated is subjected. The hot humid gas, which has the latent heat of steam, imparts a large quantity of heat to the article even when the treating chamber is not perfectly enclosed. The fibers softened through the permeation of the steam are brought into small vibration and the creases are removed. Thus, a knitted article can be set to the form promptly with an excellent finish ensured. Unlike those finished with hot air alone, the article thus obtained is free from discoloration. The hot humid gas which has imparted heat and moisture to the article is then run off through the vents 66 by being sucked by the fan 61. It is then led into the hot blast duct 58 through the exhaust duct 67 and is thereafter returned to the treating chamber as dry hot air with the remaining moisture removed while being passed through the heater 60.

When a predetermined period of treatment has been completed, the timer is actuated to stop the ejection of steam, the hot air alone being thereafter circulated for a while to dry the article treated. The motor 12 is then set driving. Or, depending upon the kind of the fibers, the motor may be initiated into rotation to drive the chain 6 simultaneously when the ejection of steam is stopped. The projection 21 now moves round to the lower side 6b, urging the carrier 17 rightward by pushing the right projecting member 2% of the plate leg 18 and sends out the carrier from the treating chamber. After the form is initiated into rightward travel to move out of the chamber, the roller 78 of the plate leg 18 rides on and pushes down the strip plate 18 to close the hot blast guide duct 64 through the rod 71, so that the hot blast is led into the by-pass 59. When the projection 21 reaches the guide Wheel 9, the carrier 17 is returned to the starting end of the track 5. Since the right end 60 of the lower side of the chain is further guided downward, the projection 21 gets released from the right projecting member 20b. As a result the carrier is brought to a halt. When coming close to the sprocket 8 after passing around the guide wheels 10, 11, the projection pushes the switch 23 to stop the chain 6. The roller 78 of the plate leg 18, released from the left end of the strip plate 72 at this time permits the closure plate 68 to swing downward due to its own weight, resulting in the closure of by-pass 59. The hot blast guide duct 64 is now opened. Since the hot blast duct is kept closed while the form 24a is being moved into or out of the treating chamber, whereas the hot blast is allowed to flow into the chamber when the form reaches the predetermined position therein as well as when it is completely moved out therefrom, the article to be treated can be subjected to the stream of hot air uniformly.

Upon the carrier 17 returning to the starting end of the track 5, the handle bar 36 is drawn toward this side to move the arm 30 and thereby transfer the base 26b on the base support 28b onto the carrier and the base 26a on the carrier, onto the base support 28a. At this time the article 25b to be treated has already been put on the form 24b on the base 26b. After the base 26b is placed on the carrier, the switch 39a is closed to drive the chain 6, whereupon the carrier 17 is carried into the treating chamber together with the form 2412. The article 25a which has been treated is dried by cold blast which blows out of the mouthpieces 44, 47 of the respective cold 'blast ducts 40 to 42 while the form 24b is being sent out from the chamber and after it is returned to the starting end of the track. When dried to some extent, the article is removed from the form 24a and a new article for treatment is put on the form 24a. The above-mentioned operation is thereafter repeated.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for finishing knitted goods comprising a treating chamber disposed on a track for guiding forms for articles to be treated and adapted to effect treatment with hot blast and steam, a hot blast guide duct joined with the ceiling of said treating chamber, a steam discharge pipe disposed proximate to said hot blast guide duct for ejecting steam at the inlet of a hot blast to produce a mixture of steam and hot air so as to subject the articles to be treated to a humid gas of a high temperature, cold blast ducts disposed on the opposite sides of and above said track proximate to an inlet or outlet opening of said treating chamber, and hemispherical mouthpieces formed on said ducts for adjusting the direction of discharge of the cold blast.

2. An apparatus for finishing knitted goods comprising a treating chamber disposed on a track having a slit therein for guiding forms for articles to be treated and adapted to effect treatment with hot blast and steam, a hot blast guide duct joined with the ceiling of said treating chamber, a steam discharge pipe disposed proximate to said hot blast guide duct for ejecting steam at the inlet of a hot blast to produce a mixture of steam and hot air so as to subject the articles to be treated to a humid gas of a high temperature, a carrier carrying a base for said form thereon and having a plate leg received in said slit of said track and left and right projecting members fixed to said plate leg, a drive chain positioned below said track and having a projection extending therefrom, said drive chain including an upper length and a lower length, each of said projecting members being adapted to intersect only one of said upper and lower lengths of said drive chain, guide wheels disposed at one end of said track for guiding said drive chain below said lower length, and means for driving said drive chain such that said projection selectively engages one of said projecting members to move said carrier in one direction and engages the other of said projecting members to move said carrier in the other direction.

3, An apparatus for finishing knitted goods comprising a treating chamber disposed on a track for guiding a form for an article to be treated and adapted to effect treatment with hot blast and steam, a hot blast guide duct joined with the ceiling of said treating chamber, a steam discharge pipe disposed proximate to said hot blast guide duct for ejecting steam at the inlet of a hot blast to produce a mixture of steam and hot air so as to subject the articles to be treated to a humid gas of a high temperature, a base supporting said form and having projecting edges on the bottom surface thereof, a carrier on said track and having a dovetail groove therein adapted to be engaged by said projecting edges, a pair of base supports, one mounted on each side of said track at one end thereof, said base supports each having a dovetail groove therein matching said dovetail groove in said carrier, one of said base supports engaging a base for another form and means including a U-shaped arm positioned to selectively interchange said bases from said base supports to said carrier.

4. An apparatus for finishing knitted goods comprising a treating chamber disposed on a track for guiding forms for articles to be treated and adapted to effect treatment with hot blast and steam, a hot blast guide duct joined with the ceiling of said treating chamber, a steam discharge pipe disposed proximate to said hot blast guide duct for ejecting steam at the inlet of a hot blast to produce a mixture of steam and hot air so as to subject the articles to be treated to a humid gas of a high temperature, a by-pass in communication with the upper and lower portions of said hot blast duct, a closure plate pivotally mounted in said hot blast duct to selectively close either said by-pass or said hot blast duct, a rod attached to said closure plate, a strip plate attached to said rod, a carrier mounted on said track for moving said form therealong, a roller attached to said carrier and adapted to contact said strip plate to thereby move said closure plate to close said hot blast duct.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,757,647 5/1930 Mueller 34-83 1,926,694 9/1933 Berger et al. 34-103 2,214,923 9/1940 Glover 34-83 3,475,828 11/1969 Feldman et al 34-104 CARROLL B. DORITY, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 34l03 

